Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	May 04, 2013	Apr. 28, 2012
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 588,656	$ 598,179
Cost of goods sold	348,640	363,925
Gross profit	240,016	234,254
Selling and administrative expenses	213,879	211,475
Restructuring and other special charges, net	519	10,188
Impairment of assets held for sale	4,660
Operating earnings	20,958	12,591
Interest expense	(5,721)	(6,036)
Interest income	68	83
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	15,305	6,638
Income tax provision	(7,946)	(2,616)
Net earnings from continuing operations	7,359	4,022
Discontinued operations:
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax of $3,583 and $1,632, respectively	(5,637)	(2,394)
Impairment charge on net assets of discontinued operations	(12,554)
Net loss from discontinued operations	(18,191)	(2,394)
Net (loss) earnings	(10,832)	1,628
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(70)	(67)
Net (loss) earnings attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	$ (10,762)	$ 1,695
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
From continuing operations	$ 0.18	$ 0.10
From discontinued operations	$ (0.44)	$ (0.06)
Basic (loss) earnings per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders	$ (0.26)	$ 0.04
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
From continuing operations	$ 0.18	$ 0.10
From discontinued operations	$ (0.44)	$ (0.06)
Diluted (loss) earnings per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders	$ (0.26)	$ 0.04
Dividends per common share	$ 0.07	$ 0.07